Earthquake: verses on the earth-quake, in North-America, in the year 1755, and worthy the attention of every person, particularly as we have lately had like visitations

Earthquake is a retrospective broadside, probably capitalizing on good sales of the previous Shocking Earthquakes. Coverly reinforced the connection by using one of the same cuts at the top and a similar row of flowers between the columns.

The 1755 earthquake occurred on November 18. John Adams wrote about the event in his journal.

We had a very severe shock of an earthquake. It continued near four minutes. I then was at my father’s in Braintree, and awoke out of my sleep in the midst of it. The house seemed to rock and reel and crack, as if it would fall in ruins about us. Chimneys were shattered by it within one mile of my father’s house. (qtd. in Winslow 66)

News accounts appeared almost immediately.

By this astonishing event, the inhabitants of the town were, in general, put into great consternation, fearing, every moment, least they should be buried under their houses; but, thro’ the divine favour, no life was lost. (qtd. in Winslow 66)

A woodcut on a broadside issued at the time showed the grasshopper flying off the top of Faneuil Hall and the steeple of a nearby church breaking off. It carried a forty-verse poem in ballad meter beginning “While God sends forth his thundring Voice / and bids the earth to quake.” The lyrics take full advantage of the direful happenings and call the people to repent of the sins that have caused an “offended God” (Newland, Earthquakes; Dow; Newland, Verses).